Protective neck collar

ABSTRACT

An inflatable protective neck collar for a football player or the like. The collar extends circumferentially about the player&#39;&#39;s neck to provide an air cushion between his head and shoulders. Blows to the head and neck are cushioned by the collar to protect the wearer against injury due to extreme neck flexion in any direction.

United States Patent 1191 Ettinger I v Dec. 24, 1974 [5 PROTECTIVE NECKCOLLAR 2,994,534 8/1961 Davis et al 2 2 x 75] Inventor: Donald N.Ettinger, Saint Louis, MO. 3,497,872 3/1970 [73] Assignee: Hit-Away,Inc., Indianapolis, Ind. 37659219 10/1973 [22] Filed: 1974 PrimaryExaminerAlfred R. Guest [21] Appl. N0.: 435,840 Attorney, Agent, orFirmTrask, Jenkins & Hanley Related US. Application Data [63]Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 397,731, Sept. 17, '[57] ABSTRACT 1973,abandoned.

An inflatable protective neck collar for a football [52] US. Cl. 2/2player or the likeflhe collar extends circumferentially [51] Int. ClA4111 13/00 about the players neck to provide an air cushion bel Fieldof Search 16- 20, 75, tween his head and shoulders. Blows to the headand 1 8/ neck are cushioned by the collar to protect the wearer againstinjury due to extreme neck flexion in any di- [56] References Citedrection.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 C 5 D 1,252,173 l/l9l8 Pritchard 128/1310. 20rawmg gums PROTECTIVE NECK COLLAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No.397,731, filed Sept. 17, 1973 now abandoned.

This invention relates to a protective neck collar for a football playeror the like, and more particularly to an inflatable circumferential neckcollar which is removably worn about a players neck in a manner toreduce injuries due to extreme neck flexion and blows to the neck.

Anyone who has ever played or watched football or any other body contactsport is well aware of the everpresent danger of injury to players. Fromthe early days of football to the present time, injuries have ocurredall too frequently. Unfortunately, the need for improved equipment oftenbecomes known only after serious injuries to players have occurred.

In the early days of football little, if any, protective equipment wasused by the participants. Over the years, however, protective equipmentsuch as helmets, shoulder pads, thigh pads, and face guards have beenintroduced and their use has become mandatory. Moreover, footballprotective gear is continually being improved. For example, the closefitting aviator" type leather helmet of the early days has graduallyevolved into the padded, plastic helmet of today which is capable ofwithstanding heavy blows. In addition, present day helmets are equippedwith protective face guards which serve to further reduce injuries.Shoulder pads, too, have evolved from the generally flat, form-fittingpadding of the past, to the padded plastic, so-called cantilever pads oftoday which support at least part of the pads away from the wearersshoulders to better absorb and diffuse the heavy blows to which they aresubjected.

Neck injuries, however, continue to plague football players. This is dueat least in part to the fact that advancements in head and shoulderprotective equipment have tended to give a player a feeling of security.In fact, this equipment protects a players head and shoulder areas sowell that many players are now using these portions of their anatomy asweapons. Modern head and shoulder protective equipment does not,however,

shield or protect the neck area, and the unfortunate result is anever-increasing occurrence of serious neck injuries due primarily toextreme flexing or stretching of the cervical spine and neck muscles,and also to the multiplicity of direct punches and blows to the neckarea which are an inherent part of the violent game of football.

The sponge neck collar is the most commonly used football neckprotective device, and that collar normally comprises a horseshoe-shapedroll of sponge rubber which is worn around the rear and the sides of aplayers neck. The sponge collar is kept in place by tying it withshoelaces to the players shoulder pads in both the front and rear, andthe collar serves as a stopgap between the players head and shoulders toprevent flexing or stretching of the neck beyond a predeterminedposition. In this manner, injuries due to extreme flexion to the rear orto either side may be reduced.

Unfortunately, the conventional sponge collar does not prevent or reduceneck injuries caused when a players head is violently rammed forwardlyand downwardly into his chest, as often happens during a headon tackle.And the collar does not protect against direct blows to the frontal areaof the neck. Moreover, because the collar prevents flexing movementbeyond a predetermined position, it is often difficult or impossible fora player such as a lineman to wear a sponge collar and still be able toget his head back and up in order to see his opponent. See US. Pat. Nos.3,189,917 and 3,497,872. For this reason, many coaches do not allowtheir players to wear one of these collars until after they havereceived an injury. This, in effect, relegates the conventional spongecollar to a use of preventing aggravation of existing neck injuriesrather than preventing the injuries themselves. Clearly there fore, thesponge collar is an unsatisfactory solution to the persisting neckinjury problem.

I Various other neck protectors have been developed, and some of theseare designed to protect a player against injury caused by extremeforward and downward movement of the neck. See, for example, US. Pat.No. 3,765,029. While some of these protectors do not greatly restrict aplayers head and neck mobility, they are of limited usefulness sincethey do not protect against extreme neck flexion in all directions.

The present invention overcomes the above mentioned problems anddeficiencies by providing a protective neck collar which helps preventneck injuries caused by extreme flexing or stretching of the neck in anydirection, and which does not restrict a players normal head and neckmovements. Moreover, the present invention provides a neck collar whichdoes not substantially add to the weight or bulkiness of a playersprotective equipment, and is both structurally simple and relativelyinexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, an inflatableneck collar is provided which fits circumferentially about a playersneck to form an air cushion between his head and shoulders. Whenpartially inflated, the collar has a size and shape effective to absorband diffuse sharp blows to the head and neck area and thereby preventextreme flexing and stretching of the neck in all directions. Theplayers normal head and neck movements are unimpeded as the collarcompresses slightly to accommodate such normal movements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustratethe invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a football player wearing a protectiveneck collar embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a neck collar made in accordance withthis invention with portions thereof cut away;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a player wearing the collar of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 4, but with the player alsowearing a protective helmet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A protective neckcollar embodying this invention is shown in FIG. 1 and generallycomprises a circumferentially extending collar 10 which fits about aplayers neck.

The protective collar is formed of a strong, lightweight, elastomeric orrubber-based material and is rotationally molded into an annular-shapedtube, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The collar is sufficiently resilientthat it can be pulled over the wearers head and regain its originalcircumference and shape about the wearers neck.

A soft air valve 12, formed of gum rubber or a like substance, isdisposed at or near the outer periphery of the collar 10 to permit thecollar to be selectively inflated and deflated. Because of the inherentresiliency of the collar, inflation thereof can be accomplished eitherbefore or after the collar is placed about the wearers neck. Ahypodermic needle (not shown) is inserted through the gum valve 12 and apredetermined amount of air blown through the needle to inflate thecollar. When the needle is withdrawn from the gum valve, the valve willself-seal and the collar will remain inflated until the needle isre-inserted through the valve for the purpose of bleeding air from thecollar. Alternatively, the collar can be equipped with a conventionalbasketball-type self-sealing valve to permit selective inflation anddeflation of the collar.

The size and shape of the collar is such that the inside circumferencethereof is slightly larger than that of the wearers neck, say by aboutone-half to three inches. This permits the collar to fit closely yetcomfortably about the wearers neck without affecting the wearers normalside-to-side neck movement. The collar can be manufactured in a varietyof sizes, each having a different inside circumference to assure thatone size will fit a given user.

The collar is shaped from front to rear to generally correspond to theshape of the wearers neck and shoulders. To this end, thecross-sectional circumference of the collar varies from a large portion14 at the back of the players neck to a relatively smaller portion 16 inthe front. In practice, the actual dimensions depend upon the size ofthe player, but normally the cross-sectional circumference tapers fromabout 5 inches at the back of the neck to about 3 inches in the front.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the collar is desirably used in conjunctionwith protective shoulder gear such as a set of football shoulder pads18. Typically, the pads are formed of complementary halves l9 and 20which are flexibly joined together at their backsides by webbing (notshown) and in the front by laces 22. Together, the halves l9 and 20 forman opening 24 through which the players head extends, with the edges ofthe opening generally following the contour of the players neck andshoulders from front to rear. The pads 18 therefore conveniently form asupporting surface upon which the collar can be placed.

After the collar is pulled over the players head, the smaller portion 14is centered in the front under the chin. Desirably, the collar is tiedas by a spring 26 to the laces 22 on the front of the shoulder pads 18.This secures the collar against unwanted displacement about the playersneck and retains the smaller portion 14 under the chin to assure thatthe collar will always be positioned to generally fit the contour of thepads 18 from front to rear. The string 30 also serves to pull the frontof the collar downwardly a short distance, as shown in FIG. 4 to causethe front of the collar to more closely fit the sloping frontal contourof the pads. Moreover, this increases the clearance between I theplayers chin and the upper front surface of the collar to facilitatenormal up and down head movement. As shown in FIG. 5, when the playerputs on a protective helmet 28 of the type typically used in football,the lower rear edge 30 of the helmet bears against the upper rearsurface of the collar. In effect, the helmet pushes the larger portion26 of the collar downwardly a short distance to cause the rear portionof the collar to substantially fill the gap between the helmet 28 andthe pads 18, and to also generally conform to the sloping contour of thebackside of the pads.

When in place, the collar provides an air cushion encircling the wearersneck atop his shoulder pads and substantially filling the previouslyunprotected gap between the head and shoulders. The collar is inflatedto an extent such that normal head and neck movements are unimpededwhile sharp blows to the head and neck are effectively absorbed anddiffused. For example, the collar compresses slightly with little effortto accommodate normal side-to-side and up-down head and neck movementsuch as is required of an athlete during competition. This permits aplayer such as a football lineman to get his head back and up to see hisopponent as his helmet or head bears against and slightly compresses theair in the collar. However, when a player re ceives a sharp blow to thehead or neck as is often the case in football during a head-on tackle,his head will naturally move with the blow and subject the player topossible injury due to extreme neck flexion. The neck collar of thisinvention effectively protects against such extreme neck flexion in alldirections by absorbing and diffusing the blow as the players headpinches the collar between his head and shoulders. Additionally, thecollar serves to pad the neck area against direct blows to provide evengreater protection against neck injury.

The protective neck collar of this invention is capable of repeatedlyabsorbing and dissipating the sharp blows to the head and neck whichcould otherwise cause severe injury. This collar is compatible with aplayers conventional protective armor and adds substantially no weightthereto. Moreover, while this inflatable collar has been described foruse primarily by a football player, the collar can be used by anyathlete involved in a contact sport and desiring circumferentialprotection against extreme neck flexion.

I claim:

1. A protective neck collar for use in conjunction with protectiveathletic shoulder gear which has a head opening formed therethrough,comprising an inflatable annular tube of a pliable material adapted toextend circumferentially about a players neck between the protectiveshoulder gear and the players head, and means for connecting said tubeto the protective shoulder gear to prevent displacement of said tubeabout the players neck, the size and shape of said tube being such thatsaid tube generally conforms to the front to rear contour of the headopening in the protective shoulder gear and substantially fills the gapbetween the players protective shoulder gear and head, said tube formingan air cushion which when inflated encircles the players neck andcompresses slightly with little effort to accommodate normal head andneck movements, and is pinched between the players head and protectiveshoulder gear upon sharp blows to the head and neck to absorb said blowsand prevent injury due to extreme neck flexion in any direction.

2. A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tube isstretchable to be pulled over the players head and regain its originalsize and shape when about the players neck and inflated.

3. A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tubehas a generally circular cross section, and the cross-sectionalcircumference of said tube tapers from about 5 inches at the back of theplayers neck to about 3 inches in the front.

4. A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 1 wherein the crosssection of said tube tapers from a large portion at the back of theplayers neck to a relatively smaller portion in the front.

5. A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 1 wherein said meansfor connecting said tube to the protective shoulder gear is connected tothe portion of said tube at the front of the players neck, said meansbeing operative to pull downwardly on said portion to cause said tube toclosely fit the frontal contour of the shoulder protective gear.

6. A protective neck collar for use in conjunction with protectiveathletic head gear and protective athletic shoulder gear having a headopening formed therethrough, comprising an inflatable annular tube of apliable material and a generally circular cross section adapted toextend circumferentially about a players neck between the shoulder gearand the players head and head gear, said tube being stretchable to bepulled over the players head and to regain its original shape about theplayers neck, and means for connecting said tube to the shoulder gear toprevent displacement of said tube about the players neck, said tubehaving a cross section tapering from a large portion at the back of theplayers neck to a relatively smaller portion in the front to generallyconform when inflated to the front to rear contour of the head openingin the shoulder gear and to substantially fill the gap between theplayers shoulder gear and his head and head gear, said tube forming anair cushion which encircles the players neck and compresses slightlywith little effort upon engagement with the players head and head gearduring normal head and neck movements to accommodate said normalmovements, and is pinched between the players shoulder gear and his headand head gear upon sharp blows to the head and neck to absorb said blowsand prevent injury due to extreme neck flexion in any direction.

7. A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 6 wherein said meansfor connecting said tube to the protective shoulder gear is connected tothe relatively smaller portion of said tube at the front of the playersneck, said means being operative to pull downwardly on said smallerportion to cause said tube to closely fit the frontal contour of theshoulder protective gear.

8. A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 6 wherein thecross-sectional circumference of said tube tapers from about 5 inches atthe back of the players neck to about 3 inches in the front.

Patent No.

Dated December 24, 1974 Inventor(s) .lttest:

RUTH C. I-IASON attesting, Qfiicer "ORM PO-105O (10-69) Donald N.Ettinger It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 6, add a comma after "1973" Column 3, line 56, change"14'' to --l6--;

line

line

line

Column 4, line 2, start new paragraph with "As".

line

In the drawings, sheet 1, Fig. l, the reference numeral 22 should beapplied to the laces tying together the front of the complementaryhalves 19 and 20 of the shoulder pads 18.

Signed and sealed this 3th day of April 1975.

57, change "spring" to --string--;

60, change "14" to --l6--;

63, change "30" to --22---.

7, change "26" to -l4--.

C. PLARSI-IALL DANN Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks I uscoMM-oc6O376-P69 US. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1 0-36'3!

1. A protective neck collar for use in conjunction with protectiveathletic shoulder gear which has a head opening formed therethrough,comprising an inflatable annular tube of a pliable material adapted toextend circumferentially about a player''s neck between the protectiveshoulder gear and the player''s head, and means for connecting said tubeto the protective shoulder gear to prevent displacement of said tubeabout the player''s neck, the size and shape of said tube being suchthat said tube generally conforms to the front to rear contour of thehead opening in the protective shoulder gear and substantially fills thegap between the player''s protective shoulder gear and head, said tubeforming an air cushion which when inflated encircles the player''s neckand compresses slightly with little effort to accommodate normal headand neck movements, and is pinched between the player''s head andprotective shoulder gear upon sharp blows to the head and neck to absorbsaid blows and prevent injury due to extreme neck flexion in anydirection.
 2. A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid tube is stretchable to be pulled over the player''s head and regainits original size and shape when about the player''s neck and inflated.3. A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tubehas a generally circular cross section, and the cross-sectionalcircumference of said tube tapers from about 5 inches at the back of theplayer''s neck to about 3 inches in the front.
 4. A protective neckcollar as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross section of said tubetapers from a large portion at the back of the player''s neck to arelatively smaller portion in the front.
 5. A protective neck collar asset forth in claim 1 wherein said means for connecting said tube to theprotective shoulder gear is connected to the portion of said tube at thefront of the player''s neck, said means being operative to pulldownwardly on said portion to cause said tube to closely fit the frontalcontour of the shoulder protective gear.
 6. A protective neck collar foruse in conjunction with protective athletic head gear and protectiveathletic shoulder gear having a head opening formed therethrough,comprising an inflatable annular tube of a pliable material and agenerally circular cross section adapted to extend circumferentiallyabout a player''s neck between the shoulder gear and the player''s headand head gear, said tube being stretchable to be pulled over theplayer''s head and to regain its original shape abOut the player''sneck, and means for connecting said tube to the shoulder gear to preventdisplacement of said tube about the player''s neck, said tube having across section tapering from a large portion at the back of the player''sneck to a relatively smaller portion in the front to generally conformwhen inflated to the front to rear contour of the head opening in theshoulder gear and to substantially fill the gap between the player''sshoulder gear and his head and head gear, said tube forming an aircushion which encircles the player''s neck and compresses slightly withlittle effort upon engagement with the player''s head and head gearduring normal head and neck movements to accommodate said normalmovements, and is pinched between the player''s shoulder gear and hishead and head gear upon sharp blows to the head and neck to absorb saidblows and prevent injury due to extreme neck flexion in any direction.7. A protective neck collar as set forth in claim 6 wherein said meansfor connecting said tube to the protective shoulder gear is connected tothe relatively smaller portion of said tube at the front of theplayer''s neck, said means being operative to pull downwardly on saidsmaller portion to cause said tube to closely fit the frontal contour ofthe shoulder protective gear.
 8. A protective neck collar as set forthin claim 6 wherein the cross-sectional circumference of said tube tapersfrom about 5 inches at the back of the player''s neck to about 3 inchesin the front.